Developers expect work on subdivision to begin in February

The 147-unit subdivision proposed for the northwest corner of Secor and Smith roads is on its way to a February groundbreaking.

"There have been a lot of people who have tried to make this happen before us," said Scott Bollin of Bedford Township, who along with Joe Garverick of Whiteford Township, is a co-owner of the parcel and one of its primary developers.

"I live just a few blocks away from the project, and I keep on looking over at it and see that nothing is ever happening there. So, we worked out a deal with the owners and purchased it."

The duo bought the 80 acres in July from the White family, who owned the parcel for more than 100 years.

There was an effort to build a large Meijer store on the site about four years ago, but the plan ultimately was withdrawn after it generated opposition from Bedford residents.

"In fact Meijer actually contacted us a few weeks ago and we told them we are already moving forward with the subdivision," said Mr. Bollin, who attended some of the meetings to fight against the Meijer proposal.

The previous developer of this land, Dave Kienzle of Perrysburg, was given preliminary approval for a 143-unit subdivision more than two years ago, but he never began construction.

The current proposed subdivision, Reserve at Summerlyn, is platted for 63 acres.

Mr. Bollin said they will have 9.4 acres of conserved, open space on the western edge of their property.

He said they eventually will add a development, likely a large office building, on the 17 acres fronting Secor - making the total project area about 80 acres.

At last week's township board meeting, the board approved the 33 single-family unit portion of the $40 million project.

The 33 lots will sell for $65,000 to $100,000.

Half of them will back up to Summerlyn Park, which is the wooded portion reserved for open space.

Mr. Bollin said the development of this single-family community is unique because "we are going to allow our lot owners to bring in their own developers to construct their houses on the lots."

He estimates the value of these houses will be between $350,000 and $700,000.

Mr. Bollin and Mr. Garverick, who recently formed Southfork Real Estate LLC of Sylvania, will have to return to the township board to receive approval for the remaining two-family and four-family units, and for the proposed office space abutting Secor, said Dennis Jenkins, the township's planning and zoning coordinator.

Todd Berman, who owns Berman Building Co. in Sylvania, has signed a contract to be the sole developer of the two-family portion - named Villas at Summerland. These 34 units will be "twinplex" houses, meaning two units will share one common wall.

Mr. Berman said the 1,800 to 2,300-square-foot units will sell for about $250,000, and the 2,100 to 2,800-square-foot units will go for about $350,000.